Westminster Council To Ask Wealthy Residents For Voluntary Tax To Help Homeless

This entry was posted by Nealc on February 12, 2018 at 7:54 am

The wealthiest residents in one of the country’s richest boroughs will be asked to pay a voluntary ‘tax’ to help the young, homeless and lonely.

Westminster Council will write to those living in the area’s most expensive properties to make an extra voluntary contribution on top of their council tax to help pay for local projects.

The scheme is expected to be given the green light after a consultation in which more than 400 people said they would support the initiative.

Council tax rates, which are among the lowest in the country, have been frozen.

But letters will be sent to homeowners in the highest council tax bracket – Band H – asking them to pay an extra £833.

Our voluntary community contribution scheme asks those in highest value homes to pay £833 on top of council tax. This money will help some of the most vulnerable in our community, including rough sleepers with complex needs https://t.co/V63ejNbjSD

The money raised is earmarked for projects aimed at helping young people, rough-sleepers and the lonely.

Council leader Nickie Aiken said the scheme was developed after wealthy residents said they wanted to pay more.

“The outcome of our consultation reflects the kind and generous spirit of Westminster residents,” she said.

“It also confirmed what I had heard from people I had met on the doorstep that those in the more expensive homes are willing to contribute more to community projects.

“The scheme is most popular among residents of the most expensive homes.”

Homelessness charity Shelter last year exposed the worst boroughs around the UK for rough sleeping and people being housed in temporary accommodation. and found most of the worst performing boroughs were in London – with some of the richest coming out as the worst.